Best-Surprise-Ever

 Last weekend Jenn, Anna and I had plans to go on a fun little outing together.   It was a vintage garden and home sale about an hour away.

 Scott was so sweet to take Lindsay with him to camp for the weekend so I didn't have to take her along and end up regretting the whole thing.

 We had a fun time checking everything out but came away with nothing.

 Little did I know that "JOY" was going to be my word of the day!!

 On our way home, we stopped by an enormous cotton field.  I am absolutely fascinated by cotton.  I have some that Scott picked for me before we moved from Texas.  I have it in an apothecary jar and i.love.it.   Jenn wanted to get some for a jar of her own, so we became cotton pickers.  We watched closely for any farmers carrying guns though. Yikes!

 We got back to town and decided to look in a few local shops and have lunch at KOBE's (yummmy!)  I had talked to Shae earlier in the day and was looking forward to seeing the pictures of her day at an apple orchard with her friends from Liberty.  Jenn's husband's family goes and makes homemade apple cider every year, so I was happy that Shae was going to have the "Virginia apple experience" too.

We finished our lunch and Jenn offered to come over and help me with some things on the computer...any time I am offered help on the computer-I take it!

So we were sitting in the kitchen doing a project and  Anna was baking pumpkin bread when the doorbell rang. 

It was Maeghan, Shae's best friend.  She showed me a Liberty University shirt that "Shae had sent her" and said that it made her think of us and stop by.    

It is NOT unusual for Maeghan to come over while Shae was at school,  so I thought nothing of it, except to be happy she came by!

We were chatting and catching up on the events of Maeghan's life when I heard the screen door behind me open....

IN WALKED SHAE!!!!

Maeghan had picked her up at the airport Sacramento that morning!

I can't even describe the SHOCK I experienced. (my heart is beating so hard and fast even NOW, as I am recalling the feeling!)  Jenn had been in on the surprise!!  Anna and I could not believe what we were seeing!  I was so convinced that Shae was in Virginia it took me a little bit to let it all sink in!

(I am sure that Scott was probably thinking hmmmm...wonder how much this cost and how many classes she is missing!)

"We waited for Anna's pumpkin bread to be finished, and headed to camp to share the surprise with Scott, Lindsay, Grandma and Papa!

Grandma was busy setting tables for dinner for the  the ladies' retreat when Shae walked in on her!

Her reaction was priceless!

Lindsay had no idea who this was...

Until she spoke.....

These really are life's most precious moments.  NOTHING could be more wonderful.

We stayed for dinner at camp,

went on a golf Kart ride...

(Lindsay was in HEAVEN having Shae AND Maeghan on each side of her!)

Then we started our weekend of "Shae's favorites" by having mini cupcakes and gelato at Sweet Spot.  (she had "In n Out" after Maeghan picked her up!)

The next morning we went to do a little shopping at the store where Maeghan works.  (Lindsay stayed at camp-I could NOT believe she didn't want to come home!)

Good thing this sign was hanging on the register at For Elyse! Phew!

We enjoyed every single minute we had with Shae!

Shae brought Lindsay lunch at school,

(It was pajama day) Lindsay was thrilled when she walked in and she kept saying, "My big sister!!"

What a special gift Shae gave us by coming home for a surprise!  I NEVER dreamed I would get one of those surprises since she goes to school on the other side of the country.

It was priceless and refreshing to see her so unexpectedly.

I think we can all make it until Christmas now....it really WOULD HAVE been a long time to wait to see her!

The night before Shae left we walked across the Sundial Bridge since it is decked out in pink during the month of October.  It was so fun.

{this is the best thing I saw all weekend}

worth.every.penny.

Happy Birthday Shae Marrin!

Today Shae Marrin is 18 years old. Eighteen.

I really can't believe how quickly 18 years has slipped by.

It seems like just yesterday it was just the two of us running errands and hanging out at home waiting for Dad to come home from a weekend at camp. We had 5 years, just the three of us. Five easy and FUN years.

God gave me YOU first and He spoiled me.

What an easy, sweet, obedient little girl.

You are a young woman now and just as easy, sweet and obedient. You are proof that "Obedience Brings Blessing." It is an absolute JOY to watch you grow in your faith. Your desire to do what is right is such a blessing to us, your parents. I pray that God will give you the desires of your heart as you trust Him with your life's path.

You are far away for the first time on your birthday and I am missing you extra today. Yet, you are right where God wants you, what better place could you possibly be?

Know that though you are in another state and in a different time zone, I will be thinking about you today and remembering the day my greatest wish and most desperate prayer was answered.

I became your Mom.

You have been such a great example to your sisters.

I am so proud of who you are.

I wish you the happiest of birthdays!

I Love You more than you can understand,

Mom

"But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

2 Peter 3:18

September

This is the month that my first baby will turn 18. She will be an adult. I don't know where the years have gone, or why they have passed by so quickly.

It is very weird having one of my children living on the other side of the country. She doesn't eat her meals here and I don't wash her clothes anymore. She is so happy and so not homesick, and I am thankful~ but, my heart hurts. It is a pain that comes upon me at the strangest times. According to Scott I need to "let her fly" , "let her grow up". I GET that, I really do. But I had no idea that so much of who I am IS my children. I almost feel.....lost at times.

I am trying to not miss her.

She is in good hands, and surrounded by girls I would probably hand pick for her.

She is making good choices.

Scott says that we have "done our job and now it is her time to live what we have taught her".

{but in MY defense, she DID skip 8th grade, so I was robbed of one year of her still being home!}

I am thankful that I still have two girls at home. Maybe now I understand why God allowed Lindsay to be the way she is~so she will always need me. {I think}

I am not the first and certainly won't be the last Mama that has had to send her little birdie out of the nest to try and fly alone. But I wasn't prepared for how it would feel. In my head I know that she is right where she is supposed to be, my heart will eventually "get it" too. I know I will make it through this...but, seriously, If ONE MORE PERSON tells me that since she went to school in Virginia, she will never live in my home again, I might have to punch them!

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A High School Graduate

The last 2 weeks have been just C-R-A-Z-Y!

The end of school is always very busy, but this year I had a senior!

Graduation preparations take a lot of time and effort for the parents (especially since the senior class was in The Virgin Islands the week before graduation!)

Some of us {helicopter Moms} were busy decorating the gym during graduation rehearsal.

It was a little emotional to watch! I got a little teary-eyed watching!!! This is such a close-knit class. The truly LOVE each other, so it is hard to imagine them going their separate ways.

Talk about emotional...seeing your child wear that black cap and gown can do you in!

Maeghan, Laura and Shae. (Heading to Simpson University in Redding, University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.)

Scott's sister Laurie came from Texas and brought our niece Hannah! Shae was sooo surprised!

My parents came from Phoenix. They are here for the summer! (YaHoo!!!)

My children have been so lucky to have all four of their grandparents close by! What a blessing!

Shae graduated with high honors and won a few scholarships, including the Chamber of Commerce Scholarship from the City of Palo Cedr0, where her school is located. She was one of 4 to receive it out of several hundred applicants!

She has been such a sweet daughter, and it has been a blessing to watch her grow. She has matured into a wonderful young woman and I am excited to see what the next chapter in her life has for her!

{senior trip post will be up next...IF OUR INTERNET WILL COOPERATE!}

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Driving on Field Trips...

Every year, Redding Christian takes the whole high school to Marine World in Vallejo (between Sacramento and San Francisco). Parents are the drivers. My friend Stacy and I have driven each year that Maeghan and Shae have gone. Two years ago we dropped our kids off at the gate and took off to shop, have lunch and see a movie.

LAST YEAR we had to STAY IN THE PARK FOR 10 HOURS!!

Here are the fun girls I had the pleasure of spending 3 hours (each way) with. It was a fun, giggling, singing filled trip!! I got the low-down on who likes who and all that important stuff!

It was so funny this year because usually we don't hear from the girls all day (unless we are there to hold their stuff while they were on a ride) they love staying there from opening until closing. THIS YEAR Maeghan and Shae BOTH called us around noon and were "over" Marine World!

Guess they had their fill of all the rides, and Mr. Diehl (and his roll of quarters) squirting them with the quarter operated squirt gun!

This year Stacy and I kidnapped our friend, Carmen Diehl (she ditched her husband and his quarters in the park!) to go shopping! We had the most wonderful time together!

Carmen, Stacy and I are identical in the way we shop! We hit all the most important and FUN stores: Coach Outlet(where Carmen got the most precious purse!), HomeGoods, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Ross...

It was so nice to just take our time because we had 10 hours to waste! We found some great stuff and still had room for the kids to ride home with us (after putting most of it in Carmen's awesome storage area of her van..Stacy and I have NO ROOM in our Expeditions for bags!!)

Then....then.....we went to *IKEA*!! We spent 3 hours in there and I spent a total of only $4.95!

What a fun store to just wander around in with good friends!

Shae and Maeghan called several times wishing we were close enough to come pick them up to shop too, but we were too far away. Carmen has twin boys who are seniors too, and one of her boys called to see if we would make a McDonald's run for them!!! Obviously they all think we have NOTHING important to do but we had some serious shopping going on!

Last year everyone in my car was asleep in about 10 minutes on the way home so I was delighted to have more singing on the way home! They all did eventually fall asleep about an hour away from home but Shae would occasionally wake up and ask me if I was okay. :)

I can't believe another year is ending and I have a child who will be OUT of high school! Oh well, in 3 years I am sure I will be on the road to Marine World again with a carload of Anna's friends!

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